Stock alignment device



' Dec. 3, 1957 J- BUKREY ET 2,815,076 l STOCK ALIGNMENT DEVICE Filed May12, '1954 :Ei-E a M29 55 35, ATTORNEYS srocK nimm/instr DEVICEApplication May 12, 1954, Serial No. 429,264

4 Claims. (Cl. 164-59) The present invention relates to a stock pusherand more specifically to a guide for progressive die stock assuringaccurate positioning of stock as it is fed through progressive dies.

t Where strip material is fed between dies or die and stripper plate itis necessary to assure enough clearance laterally to permit passage ofthe stock while utilizing one edge of the stoel; as an index line pushedsnugly against a shoulder on one side of the die. On the side of the dieopposite the shoulder some means must be employed to position the stockand to push the stock against the indexing shoulder. Spring-loaded meanshave been employed which urge the stock moving through the die intoengagement with the indexing shoulder.

Arrangements heretofore are subject to dual criticism. The frictionagainst such pusher means, as the stock moved through the die, shortenedthe life of the pusher means and the spring loading tender to coc thestock by reason of the fact that as the stock moved, the spring forcewas unequally distributed along the length of pusher means due tofriction.

To a great extent the provision of a standard stock pusher has failedsince the tool and die trade has utilized malte-shift arrangementslacking any semblance of uniformity and ranging greatly from one job toanother.

fit is accordingly among the objects of this invention to provide astock pusher adapted for easy installation and which can be replaceablystandar-dized in the trade.

It is another object to provide a wheeled stock pusher wherein themaximum amount of stock-bearing area can be obtained with minimumclearance requirements.

It is another obj'ect to provide a canted frusto-conical spring-loadedroller for transmitting aligned pressure to the moving stock inprogressive dies, and wherein the pressure can be released from outsideof said dies as the operator wishes.

Other objects including economy of construction, simplicity ofconstruction, simplicity of installation, and efticient distribution ofbearing forces in the pusher structure will become increasingly apparentto those skilled in the art as the description proceeds.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a stock pusher.

Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the stock pusher shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the stock pusher shown in Figure 2 butshowing the installation of the compression spring and depressor.

Figure 4 is a fragmental section of the roller mounting portion of thestock pusher taken on the line IV-lV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a schematic cross-section through a set of dies having astripper plate in position and illustrating the installation of a stockpusher urging strip stock against the shoulder on the side of the dieopposite the stock pusher.

1&65 11316111" ice Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form ofthe stock pusher.

Figure 7 is a cut-away side elevation view of the modified stock pusheras shown in Figure 6 inserted in a die.

Figure 8 is a perspective view taken externally from a die and showingthe positioning of a plurality of stock pushers extending from betweenthe die and stripper plate.

General description In general, a frame 11 is provided. The frame 11 isarranged to house spring means 19 and spring depressor 2@ wherecompression operation is desired. The depressor 211 is provided with aloop 21 for encircling a pin 18. The pin 13 is mounted between thestripper plate 30 and die 35. The frame 11 of the stock pusher ispermitted to be urged forward by reason of the pin relief slot 13. Onthe end of the frame 11, mounting shoulders or tabs 14 providejournalling for a shaft 16. Upon the shaft 16 is rotatably and snuglymounted a roller 15. The roller 15 is canted as is the shaft 16 and thetabs 14. In accordance with the frusto-conical form of the roller 15 thecanting of the shaft 16 and the tabs 14 is such as to provide astock-engaging roller surface which is at right angles to the stock 34moving through the dies 31 and 35 and consequently the roller face isperpendicular to the plane of the frame 11. Such canting of the roller15 and journalling has obvious advantages in preserving the life of thejournalling since the normally direct thrust is carried to thejournalling means at a predetermined angle to be distributed by theframe 11 and into the die or stripper.

A modiiied form of the stock pusher is shown in Figures 6 and 7 whereinthe form of frame 11 is modified as indicated by reference numeral 23and a tension Spring 26 is substituted for the compression spring means19 and 20. As in the iirst form of the stock pusher the frame 23 isurged forward so as to press the roller 27 into engagement with stock34. Slot 25 equating as slot 13 permits this movement. In contrast tothe compression arrangement, however, the modified form contemplatestension-spring actuation. The tension spring 26 encircles the pin 18 andis retained by the end of the spring 26, opposite the pin 1S, beinginserted through the retainer or frame orice 24. It will be understoodthat a tension spring can be substituted in the frame 11 shown in Figure3 so as to make a functioning stock pusher having entirely adequateperformance as a stock pusher in die applications.

In the indicated modification, as shown best in Figure .7, the frame 23is provided with a single roller mounting tab 27a. The shaft 28 is ushmounted in the tab 27a and carries the cylindrical roller 27. As in thecase of the spring means 26 it will be understood that the modifiedroller 27 may be substituted for vthe frustoconical canted roller 15.

In light Work installations the modication shown in Figures 6 and 7 maybe used to considerable advantage inasmuch as a minimum bearing orjournalling area is obtained and the overall strength of the structureis less than shown in the heavier double frame 11. The modied form isthus more cheaply constructed while generally carrying forward the4objectives of producing a roller-type stock pusher.

Specific description Referring more specifically to the drawing it willbe seen that the frame 11 is formed from a channel-like piece of stockso that a web portion bridges between the leg portions 11a. Thechannel-like frame is then doubled upon itself so that the channel legs11a parallel and substantially meet each other forming a generallyU-shaped elongated box-like rectangular frame 11. The cut-out portions12 in the web of the frame 11 are aligned during the folding of theframe 11. The purpose ofthe cut-outs 1'2 is to provide a relie'f for thehereinafter to be described spring 19 and to facilitate assembly. At theforward (open) end of the cut-outs 12, short cleats 12a formed from aportion of the web are bent downward between the legs 11a to provide aspring seat, the purpose of which will become increasingly apparent asthe description proceeds.

Between the cut-outs 12 inthe web of the frame 11 and the forward oropen end of the frame 11, a slot 13 is provided which is aligned oneither web of the frame 11. As illustrated in Figure 3 the slot 13merges to form the stress relief opening 17 which permits the parallelcanting of the mounting shoulders llwithout misaligning the web or legportion of the frame 11. The shoulders 14 provide journalling for theshaft 16. Rotatably on the shaft 16 is the roller 15. The roller isfrusto-conical in form and case hardened or otherwise rendered wearresistant. To the extent that the frusto-conical face of the roller 15is a departure from a right angle, .so the shoulders 1li are canted toassure that a surface perpendicular to the frame 11 will be provided.The canting angle and the conical angle are thus interrelated and theirselection is normally made to permit the maximum amount of rollerengagement against the die stock 34 and so that the dimensionalthickness of the frame 11 is not exceeded by the canted shoulders ortabs 14 as shown in Figure 4.

A. pin 18 is provided which is movable in the slot 13. The pin isnormally provided with a peripheral groove 13a midway of its length. Thepin 1S is insertable between the die 35 and the stripper plate 3l) inpin seats or holes 18a therein provided. A compression spring 19, whichseats at one end against the cleats 12o, is placed inside the cageformed by the frame 11. A spring depressor or retainer 2f) runs throughthe coil of the spring 19 and is looped at one end to form a yoke whichseats in the groove 18a of the pin 18. At the other end of the depressor20 are flares 22 which retain the compression sping 19. Assembly isaccomplished through the cutouts 12 and the flares 22 preventdisengagement of the spring when the stock pusher is in operation.

As the description progresses certain obvious modifications will occurto those skilled in the art. in this connection Figures 6 and 7 areintended to illustrate a modified stock pusher having a channel-likeframe 23 which is provided with legs 23a but which is of open construe--tion on one side. Although a compression spring such as 19 may beemployed a tension spring 25 is utilized which is connectable to the pin13 in the pin groove 13a and is held by a spring retainer 2d at the endopposite the roller 27 on the frame 23. The precise form of the springretainer selected was the orifice 21 through which the spring 26 ishooked. Other retainers can be adopted, but the orifice 24'! has provedmost economical during fabrication. It will, of course, be understoodthat the tension spring 26 can be substituted for the compression spring19 without a material departure from the spirit of the invention. A pinslot is provided through the web portion of the frame 23, and nocut-outs, as 12 or 17, are required inasmuch as the web of the frame 23becomes the mounting shoulder or tab 27a for the cylindrical roller 27on the shaft 28. The shaft 28 is of step-down form to eliminate bindingand is fixed to the shoulder or tab 27a by upset.- ting vone end of theshaft 23 in the chamber provided in the tab 27a. The other end of theshaft 28 is provided with an integral head which is countersunk into thecylindrical roller 27 as best shown in Figure 7. Thus, a stock pusherhas been provided wherein the roller 27 is not canted but which doesrestrict itself to the thickness limitations imposed by the size of theframe 23. The roller 27, like the roller 15, is case hardened orotherwiserendered abrasion-and wear resistant and the roller Cil 27extends somewhat beyond the frame 23 as does the roller 15 on the frame11.

While the description has not indicated the materials comprising theframes of the stock pushers, it will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art that metal and preferably steel gives the greatestdurability to the structure and the greatest structural and fabricationeconomy inasmuch as the entire stock pusher can be stamped from sheetmetal and appropriately formed in a simple sequence of operations.

Operation It is the object of a stock pusher to position stock as itmoves through a die, for example, through a progressive die, by shovingthe stock against an indexing shoulder 33 in the die 31 as shown inFigure 5. The presently described stock pushers are inserted in recessesbetween the dies 35 and 31 or more specifically between the stripperplate 30 and the die 35. While the die shown as 31 in Figure 5 is afemale die it will be readily apparent that cases might occur where thestock pusher would be adjacent the male die 32.

The pin 18, statically positioned in the die assembly, provides a postagainst which compression or tension spring means can urge the frame 11or 23 and its roller 15 or 27 into engagement with the stock 34consequently assuring that the stock 34 will be butted against the dieshoulder 35. Thus, if tensioning means are employed the spring 26 iselongated upon installation assuring that the frame 23 will be urgedtoward the stock 3ft. If compression means are employed the depressor 20compresses the spring against the spring cleats 12a urging the stockpusher frame 11 toward the stock.

In Figmre 8 a press plate 32 is shown schematically poised over a dieset with the stock pusher frame 11 extending somewhat from beingsandwiched between the die 31 and stripper` plate 30 in recesses 37.

In Figure 5 a schematic cross-section through a die is indicated showinga frame 11 of the stock pusher inserted in the recess 37 with the pin 18retained in the seats 18b.

The frame 11 or 23 is inserted into the recess 37 provided in the Idieand the pin 18 inserted between stripper plate 30 and die 31, the pin 18impinging the spring 19 or depressor 20 and the loop 21. Thus, bycompression of the spring 19 the frame is urged forward in its travel,limited by the length of slot 13. If the frame 23 or a tension spring 26is utilized the spring 26 is directly attached to the pin 18 and to apart of the frame 23. This accomplishes simple positioning of the stripstock 34 as it is fed through the die. Roller relief passages 36 may beprovided as shown in Figure 5 so that dirt, grit, grime, and metalfragments will not plug or hamper the roller 1S. While the cylindricalroller 2'7 requires only the extension of the recess 37 to the pushingedge of the stock 34, it is recommended that a relief Ipassage 36 beprovided in the die to avoid fouling of the roller 27 by accumulation ofscraps. As the die operator desires to release the steady pressure ofthe stock pusher he may grasp the extending end of the pusher and drawagainst the spring loading mechanism thereby releasing the positioningpressure of roller against stock 34. In some die installations a singlepusher may be adequate. A plurality of pushers may be required in somedie set ups.

We have thus described in detail our new and highly useful `stockpushers. It will be readily appreciated that the wheeled or rollerfitted spring loaded pushers are a significant advance over the art. Itwill be appreciated that the simplicity of the structure renders itsimple and economical to produce. It will be further appreciated thatmaterial strength advantages are to be gained by reason of the cantedfrusto-eonical roller. ln addition a roller is provided which increasesthe interfacial contact between stock and pusher and renders the contactsubstantially frictionless. While the description has referred to aspecific application in association with progressive dies, it isintended that wherever stock is moved the pushers here described willfind utility.

lt will be understood that certain modifications are contemplated whichare within the capabilities of persons skilled in the art. Suchcontemplated modifications are intended to fall within the scope of theappended claims.

We claim:

1. A stock alignment device for indexing stock moving between a set ofdie elements wherein the alignment device is sandwiched between dieelements having recesses therein for receiving the alignment device,including: a substantially open box-like frame adapted to reciprocatelongitudinally within the recesses of said die elements and having slotstransversely provided therethrough; a tab end extending from one end ofsaid frame and comprising a mounting ange; a wheel mounted on said angeand having its rim extending beyond the peripheral extension of saidflange; a pin inserted through the slots of said frame and extendingbeyond said frame and secured to said die elements; and resilient meansattached to said pin and said frame urging said frame and said wheelinto aligning contact with stock passing through said die elements. l

2` In the structure as described in claim 1 wherein said resilient meanscomprises a tension spring secured to said frame proximate to the end ofsaid frame opposite said roller and secured to said pin so as to urgesaid roller into resilient and rolling aligning contact with stockpassing between said die elements.

3. In the structure as described in claim 1 wherein said resilientmember comprises a compression spring urging said frame outwardly in therecess so as to urge said alignment device into resilient and rollingaligning contact with stock passing between said die elements.

4. A stock alignment device for indexing stock moving between a set ofdie elements wherein the alignment device is sandwiched between themargin of said die elements, said die elements having recesses thereinfor receiving the alignment device so as to permit its resilientextension into the path of moving stock, including: a unitary frame madeof channel-shaped material folded to form a flattened substantiallyrectangular and elongated box-like form having slots provided thereinfor pin mounting and adaptable to slide reciprocably within the recessprovided between said die members, tabs extending from one end of saidframe formed from the web portion of said frame and inclined at apredetermined angle to define a space; a frusto-conical rollerinclinedly and operably mounted in the space defined by said tabs sothat the face of said roller is perpendicular to the plane of saidframe; a shaft through said roller rotatably fixing said roller to saidtabs; a pin insertable through the slot in said frame and xed byinsertion in the die elements outside of said frame; and spring meansurging said frame and roller into resilient rolling contact with stockmoving between said die elements, the movement of said frame limited bythe extent of the slot in said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,165,614 Cook July 1l, 1939 2,168,486 Marchev Aug. 8, 1939 2,374,376Olney Apr. 24, 1945 2,465,621 Wheeler Mar. 29, 1949 2,505,925 Von HaaseMay 2, 1950 2,588,946 Walden Mar. 11, 1952

